Systems and methods for mitigating motion sickness in a vehicle

Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to mitigating effects of motion sickness on a passenger in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing sensor data about the passenger to produce a passenger state that characterizes a current physical condition of the passenger while riding in the vehicle. The method includes determining whether the passenger state correlates with symptoms of motion sickness in the passenger. The method includes controlling, in the vehicle, a vehicle component to adjust a current configuration relative to the passenger when the passenger state correlates with the symptoms.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A motion system for mitigating motion sickness in a passenger of a vehicle, comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing: 
 a passenger module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to analyze sensor data about the passenger to produce a passenger state that characterizes a current physical condition of the passenger while riding in the vehicle, 
 wherein the passenger module includes instructions to determine whether the passenger state correlates with symptoms of motion sickness in the passenger; and 
 a control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to control, in the vehicle, a vehicle component to adjust a current configuration relative to the passenger when the passenger state correlates with the symptoms, wherein the control module includes instructions to control the vehicle component including instructions to automatically change, in response to determining the passenger state correlates with the symptoms of motion sickness, a position of a seat in which the passenger is seated. 
 
     
     
       2. The motion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module includes instructions to change the position of the seat including instructions to cause the seat to recline to permit the passenger to lay supine in the seat. 
     
     
       3. The motion system of  claim 1 , wherein the passenger module includes instructions to acquire the sensor data from at least a wearable sensor of the passenger, the wearable sensor communicating with the passenger module to provide the sensor data, wherein the sensor data indicates vital signs of the passenger including at least a heart rate, and
 wherein the passenger module includes instructions to analyze the sensor data to produce the passenger state including instructions to characterize the vital signs over a defined time period to assess changes in the passenger that are indicative of motion sickness. 
 
     
     
       4. The motion system of  claim 3 , wherein the passenger module includes instructions to acquire the sensor data including instructions to acquire at least a portion of the sensor data from one or more integrated sensors of the vehicle, the one or more integrated sensors including a camera with a field-of-view of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and
 wherein the sensor data includes a breathing rate, identification of whether the passenger is presently sweating, a blood pressure of the passenger, and physical traits of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       5. The motion system of  claim 1 , wherein the passenger module includes instructions to determine whether the passenger state correlates with the symptoms including instructions to compare the passenger state with the symptoms to determine when the passenger state corresponds with one or more of an onset of the symptoms and the symptoms being developed in the passenger, and
 wherein the symptoms include increases in a heart rate, a breathing rate, sweating, and a blood pressure of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       6. The motion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module includes instructions to control the vehicle component including instructions to display, on a display of the vehicle, a marker for the passenger to view in order to focus the passenger on an area related to motion of the vehicle, and
 wherein the display is located along a horizon line in a plane of view of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       7. The motion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module includes instructions to control the vehicle component including instructions to automatically adjust environmental systems in the vehicle to alter conditions around the passenger including at least ionization settings,
 wherein the environmental systems include one or more of seat heating, seat cooling, heater temperature, fan speed, cooling temperature, window position, air intake selection, and the ionization settings, and 
 wherein the vehicle operates autonomously without manual control inputs from an operator. 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for mitigating motion sickness in a passenger of a vehicle and that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
 analyze sensor data about the passenger to produce a passenger state that characterizes a current physical condition of the passenger while riding in the vehicle; 
 determine whether the passenger state correlates with symptoms of motion sickness in the passenger; and 
 control, in the vehicle, a vehicle component to adjust a current configuration relative to the passenger when the passenger state correlates with the symptoms, wherein the instructions to control the vehicle component include instructions to automatically change, in response to determining the passenger state correlates with the symptoms of motion sickness, a position of a seat in which the passenger is seated. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to acquire the sensor data include instructions to communicate with a wearable sensor worn by the passenger, wherein the sensor data indicates vital signs of the passenger including at least a heart rate, and
 wherein the instructions to analyze the sensor data include instructions to characterize the vital signs over a defined time period to assess changes in the passenger that are indicative of motion sickness. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions to acquire the sensor data include instructions to acquire at least a portion of the sensor data from one or more integrated sensors of the vehicle, the one or more integrated sensors including a camera with a field-of-view of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and
 wherein the sensor data includes a breathing rate, identification of whether the passenger is presently sweating, a blood pressure of the passenger, and physical traits of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of mitigating motion sickness in a passenger of a vehicle, comprising:
 analyzing sensor data about the passenger to produce a passenger state that characterizes a current physical condition of the passenger while riding in the vehicle; 
 determining whether the passenger state correlates with symptoms of motion sickness in the passenger; and 
 controlling, by a controller in the vehicle, a vehicle component to adjust a current configuration relative to the passenger when the passenger state correlates with the symptoms, wherein controlling the vehicle component includes automatically changing, in response to determining the passenger state correlates with the symptoms of motion sickness, a position of a seat in which the passenger is seated. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein changing the position of the seat includes reclining the seat to permit the passenger to lay supine in the seat. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 acquiring the sensor data from at least a wearable sensor of the passenger, the wearable sensor communicating with the vehicle to provide the sensor data, wherein the sensor data indicates vital signs of the passenger including at least a heart rate, and 
 wherein analyzing the sensor data to produce the passenger state includes characterizing the vital signs over a defined time period to assess changes in the passenger that are indicative of motion sickness. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein acquiring the sensor data includes acquiring at least a portion of the sensor data from one or more integrated sensors of the vehicle, the one or more integrated sensors including a camera with a field-of-view of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and
 wherein the sensor data includes a breathing rate, identification of whether the passenger is presently sweating, a blood pressure of the passenger, and physical traits of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining whether the passenger state correlates with the symptoms includes comparing the passenger state with the symptoms to determine when the passenger state corresponds with one or more of an onset of the symptoms and the symptoms being developed in the passenger, and
 wherein the symptoms include increases in a heart rate, a breathing rate, sweating, and a blood pressure of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling the vehicle component includes displaying, on a display of the vehicle, a marker for the passenger to view in order to focus the passenger on an area related to motion of the vehicle, and
 wherein the display is located along a horizon line in a plane of view of the passenger. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling the vehicle component includes automatically adjusting environmental systems in the vehicle to alter conditions around the passenger including at least ionization settings, and
 wherein the environmental systems include one or more of seat heating, seat cooling, heater temperature, fan speed, cooling temperature, window position, air intake selection, and the ionization settings.